BridgePort Monetary Options, the registered funding advisor launched by Cambridge Funding Analysis a few yr in the past, bought two practices with a mixed $400 million in property below advisement. Each practices have been beforehand affiliated with Cambridge. The offers, which closed final month, carry BridgePort’s whole AUA to only over $2 billion.
Within the first deal, the RIA purchased 100% of PearTree Advisory Group, a Roseville, Calif.-based apply with about $275 million in AUA. PearTree was based in 2006 by Brian Peardon and specializes within the ERISA retirement plan area, together with 401(okay)s, 403(b)s, Easy IRAs and SEP IRAs.
Individually, BridgePort additionally took full possession of Premier Wealth Advisors, an Indianapolis-based agency with about $140 million in property. Robin Corridor launched the agency in 2006, specializing in property planning, enterprise succession, funding advisory and retirement earnings methods for prosperous multi-generational households. Corridor can be an property lawyer.
“These current offers additional BridgePort’s objective and dedication to supply advisors with tailor-made options for enterprise continuity, succession planning, and long-term development that finally profit the shoppers,” stated Eddie Rollins, managing director of BridgePort.
Since its launch a few yr in the past, BridgePort has made 4 100% purchases—all of which have been beforehand Cambridge advisors—and one minority acquisition of an out of doors agency.
Advisors who promote 100% of their fairness grow to be workers of BridgePort and undertake the RIA’s branding, whereas those that promote minority or majority stakes retain unbiased contractor standing and their very own branding.
In trade, advisors who be a part of the platform get entry to the tech stack, in addition to “gentle companies” that Cambridge supplies, akin to apply administration and enterprise consulting, lending companies and outsourced companies like web sites and advertising and marketing.
“It’s not that the entrepreneur enterprise proprietor simply desires to promote and stroll away,” Rollins stated. “Many who I’ve spoken to are genuinely involved, ‘What occurs after I’m gone to my employees?’ The flexibility to have that apply administration, that ongoing coaching for people, in addition to—as a result of we’re owned by an even bigger entity—profession alternatives.”
Rollins stated his agency spent a lot of 2024 constructing out the RIA’s infrastructure; they now have that proof of idea from an acquisition standpoint and may exit to the market in an even bigger approach. BridgePort initially focused smaller, fee-only RIAs with between $50 million and $250 million in property. However he stated they’re seeing extra alternatives to accumulate within the $500 million to $1 billion area.
In the course of the yr, BridgePort additionally launched a tax enterprise, which was seeded via its buy of Antaeus Wealth Advisors in Massachusetts.
Though the RIA makes use of many shared companies with Cambridge, Rollins has additionally been constructing out his inner staff. In December, he employed Nikki Bell as senior vp of operations and repair. Bell joined from Wealthspire Advisors, the place he was the senior vp of middleman enterprise.
